MOSCOW, Russia -- It's simple for the U.S. Men's National Team. A win here today against Czech Republic in the quarterfinals of the 2016 IIHF Men's World Championship means two more games and a chance to play for a medal. The action gets started at the Ice Palace at 4:15 p.m. (9:15 a.m. ET) and the game can be seen live on NBC Sports Network in the U.S. and is also being streamed live via NBC Sports Live Extra.
Team USA arrived in Moscow yesterday afternoon and did not skate. Rest is at a premium, after playing seven games in the past 13 days, including four in the past seven days.
This morning, players had breakfast, a chance to workout at the hotel and a team meeting. Team USA is scheduled to arrive at the Ice Palace around 1:45 p.m. in preparation for its game.
The U.S. and Czech Republic have met four previous times in the quarterfinals of the world championship, with the Czechs winning three of those four contests. Three of the four games have been one-goal affairs, including the most recent meeting, that a 4-3 Czech win in 2014. In the all-time series, the U.S. is 5-1-1-6-1 (w-otw-otl-l-t) against the Czech Republic.
NOTES: The Ice Palace, depending upon traffic, is 30-45 minutes away from the team's hotel. In St. Petersburg, the rink was within walking distance from the hotel and took just five minutes to get to by the team bus ... Team USA's lockerroom here in Moscow is significantly larger than its St. Petersburg dressing room ... The U.S. will wear white jerseys today and is the visiting team ... Team USA is staying at the Crowne Plaza at the World Trade Center in Moscow. Security at the hotel is significant year-round. To enter the hotel each time, guests must go through a metal detector and have any bags/luggage/packages they possess sent through an x-ray machine.
Date | Opponent | Time (Local/ET) |
---|---|---|
May 3 | Finland (exhibition) | L, 2-3 OT |
May 6 | Canada | L, 1-5 |
May 7 | Belarus | W, 6-3 |
May 9 | Finland | L, 2-3 |
May 12 | France | W, 4-0 |
May 13 | Hungary | W, 5-1 |
May 15 | Germany | L, 2-3 |
May 17 | Slovakia | L, 2-3 OT |
May 19 | Czech Republic (quarterfinal) | W, 2-1 SO |
May 21 | Canada Semifinals |
L, 3-4 |
May 22 | Russia Bronze Medal Game |
L, 2-7 |